Jordan Spieth Wins Masters Green Jacket With Pocketful of Records

— -- When Jordan Spieth flubbed his putt for par on the final hole of the Masters, the only thing he lost was the record for lowest 72-hole score in one of golf's most storied tournaments.

But the 21-year-old could laugh it off. Finishing at 18-under, he became not only the second youngest player to earn the green jacket, after Tiger Woods, he tied the best score ever, set by Woods at his first Masters victory in 1997. He also became just the fifth player to lead the event from start to finish, and the first to do that since Raymond Floyd in 1976.

After he tapped in his bogey putt on 18, he applauded the crowd then walked over to his parents who were waiting for him.

"This was the ultimate goal in my golf life," Spieth said.

Spieth may be young, but he did not come out of nowhere to win at Augusta National. He had racked up three tournament victories since November -- including two on the PGA Tour, putting him in heady company.

He is the third-youngest player in PGA Tour history to win multiple PGA Tour events, after Woods and Sergio García, and is just the fourth player ever to win multiple events before turning 22, following Woods, Garcia, and Robert Gamez.

He opened eyes with his performance at the Masters last year, when he was tied for the lead after 54 holes. He seemed poised to become the tournament's youngest winner ever after he moved ahead of Bubba Watson, but he couldn't hold on through the back nine and finished tied for second.

This year, there hardly seemed any doubt about what the outcome would be going into the final day, even if he didn't feel that way.

"I thought today might be easier having played with the lead on Saturday. It wasn't," Spieth said. "It's the most incredible week of my life. This is as great as it gets in our sport. ... I'm still kind of shock a little bit."

"Jordan's come a long, long way from last year," his mother, Chris Spieth, told ESPN's Ian O'Connor.

"When he has nerves, usually that motivates him in a very positive way," professional caddie Michael Greller told O'Connor. "I remember that all the way back to the U.S. Junior [Amateur], when the cameras came out. He's able to channel those nerves in a good way."

Spieth grew up in Dallas, and describes himself on his web site as a down-home person who likes spending time with his parents and siblings, watching football -- particularly the Cowboys and the Texas Longhorns -- and fishing.

He attended the University of Texas, where he played golf before turning pro in January 2012, midway through his sophomore year.

Since then he has won three times on the PGA Tour and once on the PGA Tour of Australasia.

Among the records he set at the Masters this year were:

• The 36-hole record at 14-under 130.
• The 54-hole record at 16-under 200.
• The most birdies for the tournament at 28.
• The lowest opening round by a champion at 64.
• The youngest player to lead after the opening round.